Hancock’s response to the care homes judgement shows he's determined to blame officials for Covid mistakes
29 Apr Legal

Hancock’s response to the care homes judgement shows he's determined to blame officials for Covid mistakes

The court judgement, and Hancock’s pugnacious response, show the battle at the Covid-19 inquiry between ministers and officials over who is ultimately to blame for failures and mistakes is likely to get brutal
by Richard Vize
Government loses secrecy bid over Rwanda policy documents
18 Aug Legal
Government loses secrecy bid over Rwanda policy documents
Ex-Home Office civil servant wins back pay in contract dispute
17 Aug Legal
Ex-Home Office civil servant wins back pay in contract dispute
Home Office was warned of political killings before sending asylum seekers to Rwanda
17 Aug Legal
Home Office was warned of political killings before sending asylum seekers to Rwanda
MPs demand answers on ‘unlawful’ DWP benefits guidance
27 Jun Legal
MPs demand answers on ‘unlawful’ DWP benefits guidance
Select committee says crucial legal “safety net” for EEA nationals is not mentioned in memo for decision makers
Home Office civil servants' opinion of Rwanda policy 'irrelevant', Rycroft says
24 Jun Legal
Home Office civil servants' opinion of Rwanda policy 'irrelevant', Rycroft says
Perm sec acknowledges "grey area" if staff think a policy is illegal, but said this was not the case for the Rwanda partnership
Home Office 'already getting ready' for next Rwanda flight after first plane grounded
15 Jun Legal
Home Office 'already getting ready' for next Rwanda flight after first plane grounded
Ministers are "highly confident" the next deportation flight will take off after an intervention by the ECHR, minister says
Ministers insist it is 'right' to send asylum seekers to Rwanda despite legal pushback
13 Jun Legal
Ministers insist it is 'right' to send asylum seekers to Rwanda despite legal pushback
"We knew that this policy would attract attacks," PM says
Union seeks to block Home Office's first Rwanda flight as legal challenge kicks off
09 Jun Legal
Union seeks to block Home Office's first Rwanda flight as legal challenge kicks off
PCS says it will not allow members to be put in “potentially dangerous" situations "where they may be asked to act illegally"
Concerns raised at top of government over legality of Northern Ireland Protocol bill
08 Jun Legal
Concerns raised at top of government over legality of Northern Ireland Protocol bill
Leaked correspondence casts doubt on government's argument that its plan to override parts of post-Brexit treaty would not breach international law
PM answers Geidt’s call for explanation over Partygate fine
01 Jun Legal
PM answers Geidt’s call for explanation over Partygate fine
The PM's standards adviser had raised concern about Boris Johnson’s failure to rule on whether he has breached the Ministerial Code
MPs lambast departments' 'unacceptable' widespread non-compliance with tax-dodge rules
25 May Legal
MPs lambast departments' 'unacceptable' widespread non-compliance with tax-dodge rules
Government bodies “should be best placed” to understand IR35 rules, but HMRC partly to blame for "rushed" and poor implementation
Met ends Partygate investigation with 83 people fined and 126 FPNs in total
19 May Legal
Met ends Partygate investigation with 83 people fined and 126 FPNs in total
Sue Gray report expected next week as No.10 confirms Boris Johnson will not receive another fine
Union proposes staff boycott of Home Office’s ‘inhumane’ Rwanda scheme
13 May Legal
Union proposes staff boycott of Home Office’s ‘inhumane’ Rwanda scheme
Members urged not to volunteer to be trained for programme to send asylum seekers to East Africa
Partygate: Met reveals at least 50 more fines have been issued
12 May Legal
Partygate: Met reveals at least 50 more fines have been issued
Latest figures push number of reprimands for attending rule-breaking get togethers above 100 mark
Politicians gloat about their Covid successes, but the truth is nothing to shout about
10 May Legal
Politicians gloat about their Covid successes, but the truth is nothing to shout about
Matt Hancock says the UK's performance was "similar to or better than most comparable countries", but let's not forget the fiascos
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
04 May Legal
Home Office official found guilty of spiking pregnant lover’s drink with abortion pills
Deputy director Darren Burke joined the civil service in August 2020
High Court challenge launched against Home Office’s Rwanda plans
28 Apr Legal
High Court challenge launched against Home Office’s Rwanda plans
Civil service union says Priti Patel has failed to set out legal basis for sending asylum seekers to east Africa for “processing”
As ministers urge civil servants back to the office, we need more nuance and less petty politics
21 Apr Legal
As ministers urge civil servants back to the office, we need more nuance and less petty politics
As Jacob Rees-Mogg tours offices likes a prefect taking register, he would be better advised to talk to staff about what they are doing to support the country and his government
ICO ends criminal probe into leaked DHSC footage of Hancock
20 Apr Legal
ICO ends criminal probe into leaked DHSC footage of Hancock
Watchdog says there is “insufficient evidence” to prosecute pair over CCTV images that cost health secretary his job
Shapps announces crackdown on ferry firms to combat ‘outrageous’ P&O sackings
31 Mar Legal
Shapps announces crackdown on ferry firms to combat ‘outrageous’ P&O sackings
HMRC will target resources at companies’ minimum-wage compliance and Insolvency Service will explore Hebblethwaite ban
Met Police issues first 20 Partygate fines
29 Mar Legal
Met Police issues first 20 Partygate fines
Boris Johnson among dozens sent interview questionnaires after Sue Gray probe into Covid rule-breaking
Confused accountability between ministers and civil servants makes government less effective. Time for a new statute
23 Mar Legal
Confused accountability between ministers and civil servants makes government less effective. Time for a new statute
Parliament should legislate for a new statute to strengthen the civil service’s accountability, identity and purpose
Raab pledges support for ICC probe into Russian war crimes
15 Mar Legal
Raab pledges support for ICC probe into Russian war crimes
UK will provide police and military analysis, specialist IT and legal expertise for evidence-gathering, says deputy prime minister
HMCTS names new chief executive
24 Feb Legal
HMCTS names new chief executive
One of Nick Goodwin's major tasks will be tackling the huge backlog in court cases
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
22 Feb Legal
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
Legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test for Covid-19 to end on 24 February under "Living with Covid" plan
Inquiry launched into whether politicians should be law officers
18 Feb Legal
Inquiry launched into whether politicians should be law officers
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will examine whether it is appropriate for ministers to hold roles such as attorney general and solicitor general
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
17 Feb Legal
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
Contract notice seeks provider for phone and web service for victims ahead of legal ban